Question
Two objects of mass m and 2m are travelling in opposite directions with the same speed v. The objects collide and stick together. What is the kinetic energy lost in the collision?
Answers
oobleck
conserving momentum,
mv - 2mv = 3mv'
v' = -v/3
KE lost is thus
(1/2 mv^2 + 1/2 * 2m (-v)^2) - 1/2 (3m)v'^2
...
mv - 2mv = 3mv'
v' = -v/3
KE lost is thus
(1/2 mv^2 + 1/2 * 2m (-v)^2) - 1/2 (3m)v'^2
...